I am the administrator for our firm's health care. We have seen the premiums rise over the years in unbelievable increments. This year our premiums increased by 24%. To maintain our policies, were decided to go with higher deductibles. My deductible is $5,000 per member of my family. I may be able to cover the costs, but I am very concerned about other employees. I will pray they stay healthy. What will we be facing next year? Please act.

There was a period when my husband retired and although he was able to get health care through the VA, I was not yet eligible for Medicare, so I basically played "Russian Roulette" for 3 years. I was lucky and didn't have any serious health care issues during that period, but if I had, we could very easily been wiped out financially by medical costs.

My mother went to the hospital 3 months ago because she had terrible pains in her lower stomach. The doctor told her that she had an infection in her intestines. Her hospital stay was only 3 hours long but she received a bill for $11,750 which is more than half her yearly salary. how is she suppose to pay for it? It is really a shame to have to pay this absurd amount for healthcare.

My health care story is, "I cannot afford to pay for my healthcare insurance through my employer. If I pay healthcare insurance, I cannot buy my high blood pressure medication, or gas toput into my car. I live 20 miles from the nearest doctor or hospital."

I'm a diabetic and can't afford the 60 units of Insulin that I'm suppose to take. I can't afford all the copay's and I need to go to a mental health professional. I can't afford the $75.00 copay for the first visit. I have heart disease and no heart doctor. Have numerous other illnesses that go untreated because I don't have the money. This shouldn't happen in America.

This Country is going to hell in a hat Basket and yes we need a big change Fast

I have an unemployed friend without health insurance; she is 50 years old and cares for her disabled daughter. My friend has for more than a year endured a noxious discharge from her belly button, a lesion on her lung, and is bleeding rectally and vaginally. I convinced her to go to an emergency room; there they only said she hadn't lost enough blood to concern them and told her she needed to consult a private physician. Does this make any sense?

Well I am pretty haelty I am a young mother of two, but my father died from lung cancer in 2003 with no health insurance. And my mom to this date as we speak has an illness and needs a specific procedure done she cant get it because she cant afford has no insurance so she still has to suffer along with other americans around the world.

When I was a young boy about 10 years old, I fell a broke my arm. I run home crying because of fear and pain. My sister took me to the local hospital but I did'nt have any health insurance to cover me. The premiums were too expensive for my dad to afford.She took me to the emergency room and we waited and waited. We waited so long that my sister took me to another hospital and I was treated there. If I had had insurance coverage while at the first hospital we visited, I would have gotten taken care of immediately or in reasonable time.

My grandmother who suffered from adult onset dabetes died about three years ago, from complications from the diease. Throughout her time in and out of hospitals i realized that she wasn't getting very good treatment, mostly because she didn't have enough money. I firmly believe with better care she could have been with us much longer than she was. At the end of her life i believe that the doctors had better things to do than try to help her in her time of need. Thats my health crae story so tell me lobbyists can you justify in your heart... (more)

Goodday Everyone, you know without health care, i dont think every things will go alright,so with this little story i hope mr president will look at it on a serious matter thanks. BEST WISHES TO YOU

My son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes five years ago. I thought I had relatively good insurance, until the hospital bills came pouring in. There were supplies that weren't covered at all! I had Blue Cross and Blue Shield. I expected everything to be taken care of. It wasn't. I ended up taking the kids off my insurance and letting my ex husband take them on his. I had no choice.

My daughter teaches school and my son-in-law is an Iraq vet (7 years, s deployments, 2 bronze stars, purple heart and more). Jeremy has insurance through the VA but the system is really slow and he's had a lot of health issues since returning from Iraq. Private insurance for my daughter and their new baby is about $270 per month and adding my son-in-law would be unaffordable. They are very grateful to have insurance as are my husband and I. We are definately worried about insurance following retirement, as we are eligible soon but won't be... (more)

i have fair paying job im 45 now pay for my health insurance each pay day me and my wife the deductable on each is 500 each and 3000 max for each person a year out of pocket we cant even afford to use unless it is a emergency deductables and out of pocket needs to be cheaper because we have to do with out when living pay check to pay check im wm willing to pay a little more each pay day if im not out of pocket you know lets try to do what englang or france does thanks tony davis lake city florida we dont see a doctor cause we cant afford it... (more)

My husband has health problems diabetes chronic pancreatitis and glaucoma . he was diagnoised with hodkgins non lymphoma when he was around 7. last year he was told he had tumors on is kidney and thyroid. now when he was 30 he had tumors removed from his thyroid (about 5). well we were sent to a cancer doctor , he ordered test , the hospital told my hisband the ultre sound would be around 4500.00. how were we going to pay? my husband opted not to have the test done. he did not want to add any more bills to ever incresing mecical bills we now... (more)

it really painful, when i get to hear about fellow humans of my kind lacking the appropriate care for their health just becuse they could not afford medical bills which o a daily basis is going on the high side. it becomes so unfortunate, when you get to the hospital or medical centresw to find many lieying down helpless withpout be cared for becomes they would not avoid the bills needed for their treatment.to worsen it all, many die as a result of this just because of high cost of medical bills.

My husband is laid off and even with the COBRA insurance we can't afford all of his prescriptions. His prior employer isn't deducting 65% of the premiums. I am ready for an insurance like Medicare for everyone. Even if it means higher taxes.

health care has help me very well we my farmily

In total honesty, I do not believe the President will respond to the people's stories with action. He has backed away from his own belief in single-payer which to me is the only solution to fighting the corporate ownership of healthcare. That said, here is my story and response to the Republican tirade about "long waits, overbearing bureaucracy" and the rest of the nonesense they throw at you about government helping their own with healthcare. Having married a Canadian, I have lived in both countries over the years. From birth til... (more)

I AM FROM A SOCIETY THAT RELY NEED AN HEALTH CARE FACILITY ON CHILDREN WHO ARE INFANTS AND FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGANT. BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE HEAR SAD CASES OF DEATH DUE TO LACK OF HEALTH FACILITIES AND INFORMATION. WE RELY NEED THE HELP OF DEVELOP COUNTRIES LIKE YOURS TO HELP ON THIS ISSUES. THANKS. ORJI CALEB PETERS FROM RIVERS STATE,NIGERIA.